Lilongwe and the surrounding districts of Dowa, Mchinji, and Dedza are some of Malawi’s food baskets due to fertile soils, favourable climate and hard-working farmers.
However, climate change increasingly threatens their crop harvests.
Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and prolonged droughts are undermining smallholder farmers’ productivity partly due to traditional farming methods that are vulnerable to changing weather, loss of soil fertility and worsening environmental degradation.
Meanwhile, farmers continue to cut down trees and sell their prime agricultural land to developers.
Mavuto Chikadza, from Traditional Authority (T/A) Chitukula in Lilongwe, warns that the trend could have long-term consequences on food production in the country.
The National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi (Nasfam) member has witnessed how these changes threaten food security, dialling up the outcry for food aid.
Nasfam is implementing a campaign for climate change adaptation policies and accountable climate funding in Chikadza’s community.
During a recent meeting, the farmer warning the farming community against traditional growing methods and selling their agricultural land.
Chikadza fears this trend, coupled with the increasing effects of climate change, would have serious implications for food production if not addressed.
“While it may seem harmless today, the long-term consequences of land conversion, especially with climate change, could be devastating. Unpredictable weather patterns, reduced soil fertility, and frequent droughts are already making it harder to grow enough food. The ability to produce sufficient food to meet the needs of the population is increasingly compromised.
“Therefore, the government alongside its partners must implement and enforce deliberate mechanisms for promoting sustainable land management practices. This will ensure that agricultural land is used efficiently, resilient to climate change, and capable of sustaining food production for future generations,” he said
Linda Jussa, who grows maize, soya and tobacco in Mgwajamaya Village in T/A Chimutu in Lilongwe, concurred with Chikadza, warning that any reduction in the supply of food crops due to land conversion and climate change could lead to higher food prices, making food less accessible for consumers.
“Sale of agricultural land reduces the available area for cultivation and potentially leads to lower yields and increased food prices.
“It’s disheartening that this is happening at a time Malawi is facing challenges related to food insecurity, especially during periods of drought or other adverse weather conditions, which continue to affect maize yields,” he said.
In partnership with Eastern and Southern Africa Small-Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF) and with funding from Bread For the World (BfdW) Nasfam will be implementing a Campaigning for Climate Change Adaptation Policies and Accountable Climate Funding Project to increase participation and advocacy of rural smallholder farmers such as Chikadza and Jussa.
Nasfam Head of Programmes and Communication, Rejoice Chikakuda, said the project seeks to address issues of climate change and food security challenges through capacity building, policy analysis as well as campaign and advocacy for systemic change.
“The project will, among others, seek to empower the farmers to influence policy issues related to agriculture, climate change, food and nutrition security,” she said, adding that the escalating impacts of climate change continue to threaten food security and nutrition across Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA).
Chikakuda said smallholder farmers, particularly women, who produce 70-80 percent of the food consumed in these regions face increasing risks from droughts, floods, cyclones and pests and diseases.
She said this situation is further worsened by inadequate action on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030) and the ending CAADP Malabo Commitments on Agriculture coupled with insufficient climate adaptation funding for rural communities.
“According to reports, by August 2023, an alarming 57.5 million people in SADC and 43.4 million people in the EAC were food insecure. This crisis is exacerbated by climate change, inadequate investment in rural agriculture and regional conflicts,” she explained.
The project is expected to run from 2025 to 2027, covering 10 ESAFF member countries and seven indirect member countries.
This project’s main objective is to increase participation and advocacy of rural smallholder farmers, especially women in climate-related policy dialogues at district, national governments and regional levels, on the allocation and disbursement of funds for climate change related programs and food and nutrition security for increased productivity through agro-ecology practices.
